Internet service systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A method of operating an internet service system comprises receiving a service request, wherein the service request identifies a user and indicates a service requested by the user, selecting a first brand for display on a first section of a web page based on an identity of the user and the service requested by the user, selecting a second brand for display on a second section of the web page based on the identity of the user and the service requested by the user, generating the web page with the first brand and the second brand, and transferring the web page for display to the user with the first brand in the first section of the web page and the second brand in the second section of the web page.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/307,865, entitled PREPAID INTERNET SERVICE,filed on Dec. 2, 2002, and which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to the field of communications, and inparticular, to systems that provide Internet service on a prepaid basis.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prepaid Internet services are available from various Internet ServiceProviders (ISPs). To obtain prepaid Internet service, a user transfersmoney to an ISP in exchange for a prepaid Internet account and usersoftware for accessing the prepaid Internet service. Alternatively, asponsor may pay for the prepaid Internet account and user software. Thesoftware is often provided on a compact disk or is downloaded from theInternet. The user then operates a computer having the software toaccess the ISP and obtain the Internet service. The ISP decrements theuser prepaid Internet account based on the Internet service provided tothe user. The prepaid Internet service usually comes with additionalfeatures, such as e-mail and prepaid account refresh. Typically, the ISPplaces their own business brand on the home page that is transferred tothe user in response to an Internet service request.

In some cases, a business may want to offer a prepaid Internet servicethat has their own business brand. If the business does not want toincur the cost and complexity of building and operating their ownprepaid ISP, then the business may choose to resell a prepaid Internetservice that is provided by a prepaid ISP wholesaler. In other cases, aprepaid ISP may not have the marketing strength to effectively selltheir prepaid Internet service, so the prepaid ISP may choose towholesale their prepaid Internet service to resellers who effectivelymarket the prepaid Internet service. In either case, the businessreseller places their own business brand on the home page of the prepaidInternet service, and the prepaid ISP wholesaler does not obtain anybrand equity. Unfortunately, the business reseller may pay more thanthey want to obtain brand equity with the prepaid Internet serviceusers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention helps solve the above problems with prepaid ISPtechnology. The technology allows independent business entities toco-brand a prepaid Internet service. Advantageously, both businessentities obtain brand equity with users. Both business entities alsoobtain a powerful communication channel with their customers. An ISP canacquire brand equity while obtaining marketing assistance from aco-branding reseller. A co-branding reseller may lower their costs tothe prepaid ISP by allowing the ISP to acquire brand equity.

Examples of the invention include ISP systems, methods of ISP systemoperation, and software products for ISP systems. The software productsinclude software that directs ISP system operation and a storage systemthat stores the software.

Some examples of the invention include an ISP system comprising acommunication system interface, an Internet interface, and a serversystem coupled to the communication system interface and the Internetinterface. The communication system interface is coupled to acommunication system. The Internet interface is coupled to an Internet.The server system is configured to store a plurality of user identifiersin individual association with a plurality of independent businessbrands. The server system is configured to receive a first Internetservice request including a first one of the user identifiers from afirst user of the communication system. The server system is configuredto process the first user identifier to select a first one and a secondone of the independent business brands from the plurality of theindependent business brands. The server system is configured to transfera first page to the first user including the first independent businessbrand and the second independent business brand. The server system isconfigured to provide Internet service to the first user in response toa first user input to the first page. The server system is configured todecrement a first user prepaid account in response to the Internetservice provided to the first user.

In some examples of the invention, the server system is configured toreceive a second Internet service request including a second one of theuser identifiers from a second user of the communication system. Theserver system is configured to process the second user identifier toselect the first one and a third one of the independent business brandsfrom the plurality of the independent business brands. The server systemis configured to transfer a second page to the second user including thefirst independent business brand and the third independent businessbrand. The server system is configured to provide the Internet serviceto the second user in response to a second user input to the secondpage. The server system is configured to decrement a second user prepaidaccount in response to the Internet service provided to the second user.

In some examples of the invention, the first page and the second pagehave the same Universal Resource Locator.

In some examples of the invention, the first page is comprised of a leftsection, a center section, a right section, and a header section. Theserver system is configured to store the user identifiers in individualassociation with a plurality of left section displays, a plurality ofcenter section displays, a plurality of right section displays, and aplurality of header section displays. The server system is configured toprocess the first user identifier to select: one of the left sectiondisplays from the plurality of the left section displays, one of thecenter section displays from the plurality of the center sectiondisplays, one of the right section displays from the plurality of theright section displays, and one of the header section displays from theplurality of the header section displays. The server system isconfigured to include the selected left section display in the leftsection of the first page, include the selected center section displayin the center section of the first page, include the selected rightsection display in the right section of the first page, and include theselected header section display in the header section of the first page.

In some examples of the invention, the server system includes a stagingsystem. The staging system is configured to receive at least one of theselected displays over the Internet from a second business entity havingthe second independent business brand and store the at least oneselected display in association with the first user identifier. In someexamples of the invention, the staging system is configured to allow afirst business entity having the first independent business brand toreview and approve the at least one selected display from the secondbusiness entity before using the at least one selected display for thefirst page.

In some examples of the invention, there are a plurality of accesstelephone numbers for accessing the ISP system over the communicationsystem and there are a plurality of service rates. The server system isconfigured to select one of the service rates based on the one of theaccess telephone numbers used by the first user. The server system isconfigured to use the selected service rate to decrement the first userprepaid account in response to the Internet service provided to thefirst user.

In some examples of the invention, there are a plurality of servicerates. The server system is configured to process the first useridentifier to select one of the service rates from the plurality of theservice rates. The server system is configured to use the selectedservice rate to decrement the first user prepaid account in response tothe Internet service provided to the first user.

In some examples of the invention, there are a plurality of accesstelephone numbers for accessing the ISP system over the communicationsystem. The server system is configured to select and includeinformation in the first page based on the one of the access telephonenumbers used by the first user. In some examples of the invention, abusiness entity having the second independent business brand has a localpromotion in a local geographic area associated with the one accesstelephone number used by the first user. The information that isselected and included in the first page comprises local promotioninformation. In some examples of the invention, there is a localgeographic area associated with the one access telephone number used bythe first user. The information selected and included in the first pagecomprises local geographic area information related to at least one of:local weather, local sports, local news, and local entertainment.

In some examples of the invention, the server system is configured torestrict the Internet service provided to the first user to web sitesselected by a business entity having the second independent businessbrand.

In some examples of the invention, the server system is configured toprovide access to a specific website to only a subset of the useridentifiers.

In some examples of the invention, the server system is configured toprovide a specific enhanced service to only a subset of the useridentifiers.

In some examples of the invention, the server system is configured togenerate a report specific to ones of the user identifiers associatedwith the second independent business brand. The reports may indicaterefresh activity by the ones of the user identifiers associated with thesecond independent business brand. The reports may indicate accesstelephone numbers used by the ones of the user identifiers associatedwith the second independent business brand. The reports may indicateInternet service time used by the ones of the user identifiersassociated with the second independent business brand. The reports mayindicate user inputs to the first page by the ones of the useridentifiers associated with the second independent business brand. Thereports may indicate e-mail addresses for the ones of the useridentifiers associated with the second independent business brand.

In some examples of the invention, the server system is configured totransfer additional pages to the first user including the firstindependent business brand and the second independent business brand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an ISP system and its operating environment in anexample of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a computer system for a server system in the ISPsystem in an example of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a web page in an example of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a web page in an example of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-4 and the following description depict specific examples toteach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode of theinvention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, someconventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled inthe art will appreciate variations from these examples that fall withinthe scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the features described below can be combined in various ways toform multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention isnot limited to the specific examples described below, but only by theclaims and their equivalents.

ISP System Configuration and Operation

FIG. 1 illustrates Internet Service Provider (ISP) system 110 and itsoperating environment in an example of the invention. ISP system 110includes communication system interface 111, server system 112, andInternet interface 113. Server system 112 is coupled to communicationsystem interface 111 and Internet interface 113. Communication systeminterface 111 is coupled to communication system 100. Internet interface113 is coupled to Internet 130.

ISP system 120 could be a conventional ISP and could be a prepaidsystem. ISP system 120 includes communication system interface 121,server system 122, and Internet interface 123. Server system 122 iscoupled to communication system interface 121 and Internet interface123. Communication system interface 121 is coupled to communicationsystem 100. Internet interface 123 is coupled to Internet 130.

Communication system 100 is coupled to users 101-103. Communicationsystem 100 could be the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or someother type of communication system. Users 101-103 have the ability tocommunicate with communication system interfaces 111 and 121 overcommunication system 100. In some examples, users 101-103 directcomputers to dial access telephone numbers to obtain telephoneconnections through communication system 100 from their computers tocommunication system interfaces 111 and 121.

Internet 130 is coupled to independent business entities 131-133.Internet 130 could be the well-known Internet or some other type ofinter-networking system. Independent business entities 131-133 couldinclude Internet web sites. In the context of the invention, twobusiness entities are independent from one another if the businessentities do not have a 50% or greater ownership interest in one another.Thus, independent business entities 131-133 have less than 50% ownershipinterests in each other, and typically, independent business entities131-133 have no ownership interest in each other.

Communication system interface 111 could be any system configured toexchange communications with users 101-103 over communication system100. Internet interface 113 could be any system configured to exchangecommunications with Internet 130. Communication system interface 111 andInternet interface 113 could be conventional like interfaces 121 and 123of ISP system 120. Except for portions of its software, server system112 could be conventional like server system 122 of ISP system 120.Based on this disclosure, those skilled in the art will appreciate howto modify existing computer and communications equipment and software tomake and use ISP system 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates computer system 200 for server system 112 in ISPsystem 110 in an example of the invention. Computer system 200 includescommunication interface 201, processing system 202, and user interface203. Processing system 202 includes storage system 204. Storage system204 stores software 205. Processing system 202 is linked tocommunication interface 201 and user interface 203. Computer system 200could be comprised of a set of networked and programmed general-purposecomputers, although those skilled in the art will appreciate thatprogrammable or special purpose circuitry and equipment may be used.Computer system 200 may use a client server architecture whereoperations are distributed among a server system and client devices thattogether comprise elements 201-205.

Communication interface 201 could comprise network interface cards,servers, switches, or some other communication devices. Communicationinterface 201 may be distributed among multiple communication devices.Processing system 202 could comprise computer microprocessors, logiccircuits, or some other processing devices. Processing system 202 may bedistributed among multiple processing devices. User interface 203 couldcomprise a keyboard, mouse, voice recognition interface, microphone andspeakers, graphical display, touch screen, or some other type of userdevices. User interface 203 may be distributed among multiple userdevices. Storage system 204 could comprise disks, tapes, integratedcircuits, servers, or some other memory devices. Storage system 204 maybe distributed among multiple memory devices.

Processing system 202 retrieves and executes software 205 from storagesystem 204. Software 205 may comprise an operating system, utilities,drivers, networking software, and other software typically loaded ontocomputers in an ISP server system. Software 205 could also comprise anapplication program, firmware, or some other form of machine-readableprocessing instructions. When executed by processing system 202,software 205 directs processing system 202 to perform the operationsdescribed herein for server system 112.

Server system 112 stores a plurality of user identifiers in individualassociation with a plurality of independent business brands. Thus, eachuser identifier is associated with at least one independent businessbrand. A user identifier could be a user name, Personal IdentificationNumber (PIN), password, e-mail address, domain name, telephone number,or some other code that identifies an individual user. A business brandis the logo, design, or symbol that identifies a business entity. In thecontext of the invention, two business brands are independent if theyrespectively relate to independent business entities. An example of anindependent business brand is the Sprint red diamond logo.

Prior to obtaining prepaid Internet service from ISP system 110, users101-102 obtain respective prepaid Internet accounts. Users 101-102 maytransfer their own money for the accounts, or one of business entities131-133 may pay for the prepaid Internet accounts. In some examples,users 101-102 purchase a compact disc from a retail location of one ofbusiness entities 131-133. The compact disc has software that users101-102 load and execute to establish their prepaid Internet accounts.In some examples, users 101-102 use a credit card to purchase anddownload software from a web site of one of business entities 131-133over Internet 130, ISP system 120, and communication system 100. Inother examples, one of business entities 131-133 that paid for theprepaid Internet accounts may transfer software to users 101-102. Users101-102 then execute the software to establish their prepaid Internetaccounts. Other techniques to establish the prepaid accounts may be usedin other examples.

Server system 112 stores the prepaid Internet accounts for users101-102. Server system 112 decrements a user's prepaid account based ona service rate and an amount of Internet service provided to the user. Aservice rate is typically monetary amount per unit of time or data.Server system 112 decrements a prepaid account based on the service rateand either the time duration or the amount of data transferred for theprepaid Internet service session. If a user's prepaid account reacheszero, server system 112 terminates Internet service for that user—atleast until the user or their sponsor refreshes their prepaid accountwith an additional money transfer or authorization.

In operation, server system 112 receives an Internet service requestfrom user 101. The Internet service request includes the user identifierfor user 101. One example of an Internet service request is a dial-uplog-in over the PSTN using an access telephone number. Server system 112processes the user identifier for user 101 to select at least two of theindependent business brands. The selection is based on the individualassociation between the user identifier and the independent businessbrand. In some examples, one of the independent business brands isassociated with all user identifiers, and the individual association isused to determine the other independent business brand. For example, theSprint brand could be associated with all user identifiers and anotherindependent business brand could be associated with a specific subset ofthe user identifiers.

In response to the Internet service request, server system 112 transfersa web page to user 101. The web page includes the two independentbusiness brands selected for user 101. The web page could also includeother information or Internet links for the business entities associatedwith the selected brands. Server system 112 receives a user input to theweb page, and in response, provides prepaid Internet service to user101. One example of a user input is a Universal Resource Locator (URL)for a web site that the user desires to visit. Server system 112 thendecrements the prepaid account for user 101 in response to the Internetservice provided to user 101.

Internet service includes access to Internet 130, but may also includeadditional services, such as e-mail, account refresh, instant messaging,frequently asked questions, and other features. All of these servicescould be conventional like those offered by ISP system 120. Note thatthe web pages generated by server system 112 for these additionalservices could be co-branded in a similar fashion to the first pagewhich is typically the home page.

Server system 112 also receives an Internet service request from user102. The Internet service request includes the user identifier for user102. Server system 112 processes the user identifier for user 102 toselect two of the independent business brands. Note that one or two ofthese brands may be different than the brands selected for user 101. Inresponse to the Internet service request, server system 112 transfers aweb page to user 102. The web page includes the two independent businessbrands selected for user 102. Server system 112 receives a user input tothe web page, and in response, provides Internet service to user 102.Server system 112 then decrements the prepaid account for user 102 inresponse to the Internet service provided to user 102.

ISP System Co-Branding Ability and Advantages

In addition to the independent business brands, other information forthe independent business entities may be retrieved and placed on the webpage sent to the user. Advantageously, the independent business entitiesmay present their own brands and information to specific prepaidInternet users based the user identification in the Internet servicerequest. This capability allows multiple independent business entitiesto co-brand multiple prepaid Internet services on a per user basis.

In one example, an on-line business may desire to offer prepaid Internetservice to their on-line customers. The on-line business may not want todevelop and operate their own pre-paid ISP, and they may not want to paythe amount required to resell a service that only has their on-linebrand, but that is provided by a prepaid ISP wholesaler. The on-linebusiness can reduce their costs and operations by allowing a prepaid ISPto co-brand the prepaid Internet service. When a customer of the on-linebusiness requests Internet service, the brands and information of boththe prepaid ISP and the on-line business are presented on the web pageto the customer. Advantageously, the prepaid ISP obtains revenue fromthe on-line business and also some brand equity. The on-line reducestheir cost by allowing the co-branding. The on-line business alsoobtains a valuable communication channel to their customers whenevertheir customers use the co-branded prepaid Internet service. The on-linebusiness may use this channels for various promotions, customerfeedback, customer surveys, and to provide links to other selected websites.

In another example, a prepaid ISP could partner with a first retailer toco-brand a first prepaid Internet Service. The prepaid ISP could alsopartner with a second retailer to co-brand a second prepaid InternetService. The first and second retailers could then sell the software toestablish the prepaid Internet accounts from their retail stores or fromtheir web sites over the Internet. When a customer of the first retailerrequests Internet service, the brands and information of both theprepaid ISP and the first retailer are presented on the web page to thecustomer. When a customer of the second retailer requests Internetservice, the brands and information of the prepaid ISP and the secondretailer are presented on the web page to the customer. Advantageously,the prepaid ISP obtains powerful retail partners to market their prepaidInternet service. Also, the retail partners obtain a valuablecommunication channel to their customers whenever their customers usethe co-branded prepaid Internet service. The retailers may use thesechannels for various promotions, customer feedback, customer surveys,and to provide links to other selected web sites.

Advantageously, the prepaid ISP is not required to establish separateweb sites or URLs for each retail partner. Because the co-branded webpages are dynamically generated for each user based on the useridentifier in the Internet service request, the ISP system may co-brandvarious prepaid Internet services with multiple partners through thesame web site and URL.

Web Page Sections, Displays, and Staging System

FIGS. 3-4 illustrate web page 300 in an example of the invention. Webpage 300 represents one of the co-branded pages sent to the user inresponse to the Internet service request. Referring to FIG. 3, web page300 is comprised of left section 301, center section 302, right section303, and header section 304, tab section 305, and footer section 306. Ifdesired, gutters may be placed between sections 301-306.

Based on the user identifier in the Internet service request and thedesired page, server system 112 retrieves various displays for sections301-306 to generate web page 300. The displays contain the independentbusiness brands and other information that is associated with the useridentifier and the desired page. The following table illustrates asimplified and representative data structure that associates useridentifiers, web pages, sections, and displays.

LEFT CENTER RIGHT HEADER USER WEB SECTION SECTION SECTION SECTION IDPAGE 301 302 303 304 USER HOME DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY 101 401402 403 404 REFRESH DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY 123 678 890 345 USERHOME DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY 102 432 987 210 654 E-MAIL DISPLAYDISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY 432 765 109 654

Note that the table has been highly simplified and columns for menu tabsection 305 and footer section 306 are omitted for brevity. Rows foradditional web pages and users are also omitted for brevity. An exampleof a display is a HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML) file.

For a given user identifier and web page, server system 112 stores thedisplays for left section 301, center section 302, right section 303,and header section 304. After receiving the given user identifier andidentifying the appropriate web page, server system 112 processes thedata structure to select the displays for left section 301, centersection 302, right section 303, and header section 304. Server system112 then includes the selected displays in their corresponding sectionsof web page 300 for transfer to the user.

For clarity, the reference numbers and labels for sections 301-306 thatare present on FIG. 3 are omitted on FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates a homepage for user 101 that server system 112 generates based on the abovedata structure. Based on the data structure, server system 112respectively places displays 401-404 in sections 301-304. Display 401 inleft section 301 includes the brand and additional information forindependent business entity 131. Display 402 in center section 302includes the brands and additional information for both independentbusiness entities 131-132. Display 403 in right section 303 includes thebrand and additional information for independent business entity 132.Display 404 in header section 304 includes both brands for independentbusiness entities 131 and 132. Thus, the data structure provides aco-branding tool that can be used to co-brand web pages specifically foreach user on a page-by-page and section-by-section basis.

Note that when different tabs are selected by a user from tab section305, different center displays would be placed in center section 302—orin other sections if desired. Thus, the above data structure could beexpanded to specify displays for each section of each tab.

Server system 112 could include a staging system to receive displaysover Internet 130 from independent business entities 131-133—who aretypically affiliated with the independent business brands. The stagingsystem allows one business entity to submit proposed displays for webpages, and allows another business entity to review and approve thedisplays before using them for actual web pages.

For example, Sprint Communications may host a prepaid Internet serviceand co-brand the service with an on-line business. The on-line businesscould transfer displays to a Sprint staging system over the Internet.The staging system would allow Sprint to review and approve the displayssubmitted by the on-line business. Once approved, Sprint would store thedisplays for use with user identifiers associated with the on-linebusiness. Advantageously, the staging system allows one co-brander toefficiently input their own brands and information for review andapproval of the other co-brander. Thus, each co-brander can specifypertinent and timely displays for promotions and new products, but theother co-brander gets to review an approve the displays for accuracy,taste, and other parameters.

Additional System Features

Server system 112 decrements a prepaid account based on the service rateand the amount of prepaid Internet service that is provided. Serversystem 112 can store various service rates in association with varioususer identifiers. Server system 112 can select the service rate for aprepaid Internet service session based on the user identifier for thesession. Thus, different service rates can apply on a per user basis.Numerous other factors can also be used to select the service rate.

Users 101-103 may use access telephone numbers to access ISP system 110over communication system 100. There may be many such access telephonenumbers including both local telephone numbers and toll-free telephonenumbers. Server system 112 can store various service rates inassociation with various access telephone numbers. Server system 112 canselect the service rate for the prepaid Internet service session basedon the access telephone number for the session. Thus, different servicerates can apply on a per access telephone number basis.

Server system 112 can select and include information in the web pagesbased on the access telephone number used for the session. For example,a business entity may have a local promotion in a local geographic area.This local geographic area could be associated with one or more of theaccess telephone numbers. When a user identifier that is associated withthe business entity's brand is used along with an access telephonenumber that is associated with the local promotion, then server system112 would include information for the local promotion in the web page.In addition to local promotions, the information placed on the web pagebased on the access telephone number could be related to weather,sports, news, and entertainment for the associated local geographicarea. In the context of the invention, the term local geographic areameans a city, metropolitan area, state, or group of up to ten contiguouscounties.

Server system 112 can restrict the Internet service on a session tospecific web sites based on the user identifier for the session. Forexample, a business entity may restrict their co-branded Internetservice to a few selected web sites. When a user identificationassociated with the business entity's brand is used, server system 112would restrict the Internet service provided to the user to the websites selected by the business entity. In this fashion, a businessentity may pay for the co-branded prepaid Internet account, but restrictthe prepaid Internet service to its own selected web sites.

Server system 112 may provide access to a specific website to only asubset of the user identifiers. For example, a business entity may havea special web site not available to the general public, but may provideaccess to the special web site through their co-branded Internetservice. When a user identification associated with the businessentity's brand is used, server system 112 would provide the user withaccess to the special web site.

Server system 112 may provide an enhanced service based on the useridentifiers. For example, a business entity may desire to provide aspecific instant message service with their co-branded Internet service.When a user identification associated with the business entity's brandis used, server system 112 would provide the instant message service tothe user.

Server system 112 may generate reports that are specific to a set of theuser identifiers. For example, a business entity may desire variousreports related to their co-branded Internet service. When useridentifications associated with the business entity's brand are used,server system 112 tracks selected user activities and information togenerate reports for the business entity. The reports could indicaterefresh activities, access telephone numbers used, e-mail addressesused, Internet service time used, and/or user inputs to selected pages.

Server system 112 may apply user-specific preferences based on the useridentifiers. For example, a user may select certain operationalparameters as user preferences for their prepaid Internet service. Whena user identification associated with the specific user preferences isused, server system 112 would apply the specific user preferences on thesession.

User 103 may obtain software to establish a prepaid Internet account invarious ways. User 103 could download the software from a web site ofone of business entities 131-133. The download might occur over Internet130, ISP system 120, and communication system 100. In some examples, theuser identification for user 103 is already included in the software andhas been associated with a prepaid Internet account. Upon initialregistration with ISP system 120, server system 112 may transfer acookie to user 103 for subsequent use in co-branding and security. Whenuser 103 requests Internet service using the software, server system 112validates the user identification in the request before providing aco-branded home page to user 103. If user 103 has used all of the moneyin the prepaid account, server system 112 will provide a co-brandedrefresh page to user 103 instead of the home page.

In some examples, server system 112 may re-direct a user to a web pageother than the home page based on the user identification. In someexamples, users may select their home page, and tabs for e-mail,refresh, etc. would be provided with the selected home page.

In some examples, server system 112 may select only one brand based onthe user identification, and provide only that brand and relatedinformation on the appropriate pages. In this fashion, the inventioncould be adapted to provide multiple private label prepaid Internetservices from the same web site or URL.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a server system tocontrol a plurality of co-branded Internet services delivered over anInternet access network, wherein a first user purchases a first one ofthe co-branded Internet services from a first Internet service and asecond user purchases a second one of the co-branded Internet servicesfrom a second Internet service, the method comprising: in the serversystem, processing a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) from the firstuser to identify a network brand for the Internet access network and afirst brand for the first Internet service based on the first userpurchase of the first co-branded Internet service; in the server system,generating a first web page for delivery to the first user including thenetwork brand for the Internet access network and the first brand forthe first Internet service; in the server system, processing the URIfrom the second user to identify the network brand for the Internetaccess network and a second brand for the second Internet service basedon the second user purchase of the second co-branded Internet service;in the server system, generating a second web page for delivery to thesecond user including the network brand for the Internet access networkand the second brand for the second Internet service; in the serversystem, restricting web site access to the first user based on firstinformation from the first Internet service and restricting web siteaccess to the second user based on second information from the secondInternet service.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein: the URL from thefirst user and the URL from the second user comprise a same URL;generating the first web page comprises generating the first web pagebased on a first user identifier from the first user; and generating thesecond web page comprises generating the second web page based on asecond user identifier from the second user.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein restricting web site access to the first user based on firstinformation from the first Internet service comprises restrictingindividual web pages and restricting web site access to the second userbased on second information from the second Internet service comprisesrestricting individual web pages.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein theco-branded Internet services comprise prepaid Internet services.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the first brand comprises a first logo thatidentifies the first Internet service and the second brand comprises asecond logo that identifies the second Internet service.